Recognition for those helping to save lives

Date: 16 September 2016 By: Isabel Venter

Last week saw a special Donor for Life Awards ceremony being held during which locals were honoured for their selfless sacrifice to save others.

The ceremony was held last Friday evening at the North Gate Lodge, south of Louis Trichardt, next to the N1.

“Honouring blood donors is a way of thanking them for giving a little bit of themselves,” said SANBS public relations practitioner Ms Dottie Pinn during the ceremony. “Every unit of blood donated saves a life. We at SANBS thank each and every donor on behalf of our patients, who are able to celebrate yet another birthday,” added Dottie.

Donors receiving awards in the 25 Club were Clive Chirandu, Andzani Hlongwane, Bafokeng Mpefa, Pfarelo Netsivhera, Jacobus Smit, Elizabeth Snyders and Albertus Wilkins.  

A total of 22 Igazi-Madi medals (50 units of blood donated) were awarded, namely to André Breytenbach, Wikus Burger, Schalk Corbett, Johan du Plessis, Anna Emmenis, Maxwell Hoare-Palmer, Thomas Janck, Hendrik Jooste, Marie Joubert, Marius Kruger, Jeffrey Kutama, Leon le Roux, Abel Lebidi, Tuwani Ndou, Andries Pretorius, Armand Smit, Jannie Sounes, Francois Steyn, Hendrik Terblanche, Wimpie van Aarde, Tanja Veldman and Hugh Went.  

Medals were also handed out in honour of those who had donated 75 units of blood. To donate this much blood can take a donor between 15 to 20 years to donate and touch as many as 225 lives. The awardees were Jacobus Burger, Jaco Crause, Francois du Preez, Jacobus Erasmus, Chris Groenewald, Stals Konig, Carel Smit, Susara Venter and Maria Wolwaardt.

Seven James Blundel medals were given to thank those donors who have donated 100 units of blood. They were Pierre du Preez, Sarah du Toit, Jennifer Joubert, Zacharias Nortjé, Jan Oberholzer, Thea Oosthuizen and Jan Wilkins.

The true heroes of the evening were the five donors who were awarded the Anthon Heyns Medal. They were Wouter Coetzer, Brian Kalshoven, Dirk Meissenheimer, Jan Oberholzer and Willie van Staden, who had all donated 150 units of blood.

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Isabel Venter

Isabel joined the Zoutpansberger and Limpopo Mirror in 2009 as a reporter. She holds a BA Degree in Communication Sciences from the University of South Africa. Her beat is mainly crime and court reporting.

More photos... 

Club 25 donors were thanked during a special Donor for Life Award Ceremony for donating 25 units of blood before their 25^th birthday. From left to right are Mpefa Bafokeng, Sr Riana Viviers (Louis Trichardt SANB donor office), Albert Wilkins and Mr Patrick Nevhuvhalu (enrolled nurse, Louis Trichardt donor office).

Receiving their Igazi-Madi Medal (50 donations) were in the front, from left to right, Maxwil Hoare-Palmer, Thomas Jonck, Wikus Burger and Wimpie van Aarde. Middle: Sr Sharon Botha (Louis Trichardt Blood Service), Delson Ndou, Sr Riana Viviers (Louis Trichardt Blood Service), Marie Joubert, Pieta Emmenis, Armand Smit and Patrick Nevhuvhualu (enrolled nurse, Louis Trichardt Blood Service). At the back are Tseliso Motsoeneng (SANBS Donor Committee Member), Jannie Sounes, Leon le Roux, Tanja Veldman, Schalk Corbett, Francois Steyn, Johan du Plessis, André Breytenbach and Abel Lebidi. 

Receiving medals for their 75^th blood donation were, in the front, Chris Groenewald, with Patrick Nevhuvhalu (enrolled nurse, Louis Trichardt Blood Service) and Wikus Burger. At the back are Stals Konig, Tseliso Motsoeneng (SANBS Donor Committee Member), Sr Sharon Botha (Louis Trichardt Blood Service), Susara Venter, Sr Riana Viviers (Louis Trichardt Blood Service), Carno Smit and Francois du Preez.

Receiving their James Blundel medals were in the front, from left to right, Sr Sharon Botha (Louis Trichardt Blood Service), Thea Oosthuizen, and Sr Riana Viviers (Louis Trichardt Blood Service). Back row: Pierre du Preez, Jan Wilkins, Patrick Nevhuvhalu (enrolled nurse, Louis Trichardt Blood Service) and Tseliso Motsoeneng (SANBS Donor Committee Member).